Thanks Dan. Very helpful and clear. Working on a Concession on a Terrain that has both! I now understand the science behind the two types of deposits and the link between placer and Lode.
Hey Dan, I was in your classroom but, you didn't see me! LOL No really, That was great info, thanks! Now I know not to call the larger gold with black staining I find in the river, load gold. Even though, I know I am near the source when I find it. That's what I really meant but, did not know the two differences. HEY! I'm Eluvial. I'm eroding and headed down hill. Well, for another 9 months, I'm still headed to the top of the hill. GREAT! What the heck am I then?
Regarding the inquisitive students question about potato sized. I read this morning from Prospector Jess' article that large specimens can get 2x or 3x bouillon spot price. i came here liking to see the difference between Alluvial and Elluvial. Thank you Dan.
If there are no additional faulting, uplifts or landslides, does the eluvial deposit churn its contents, other than adding more surface material over time?
so what if an Elluvial deposit gets washed down the mountain during a rain event (maybe a temporary "stream") but not into an actual stream....Is it still considered elluvial or is it now considered Alluvial? And from the legal aspect, so would an Alluvial deposit be considered placer even if the stream has dried up (Like the washes here in Vegas), and you have to crack open the rock to get to the gold?
another twist , ok the beach that I mine is old mine tailings , now when the miners first put the tailings into the saltwater lets assume it had no free gold ! now due to the chemical reaction of salt water new gold gets reliesed , yes it is wet alluvial gold but it is also Eluvial since much it still imbeaded into the raw tailings yet to be cemicaly relieased ?